Tailgate with integrated loading ramp system

ABSTRACT

A cargo bed tailgate may include an extension configurable between a plurality of positions to enable oversized cargo to be securely carried on a cargo bed as well accommodate a deployable set of loading ramps which are storable within the tailgate and deployable to attach to the cargo bed extension after the cargo bed extension is moved and locked for the loading and unloading of a payload into or out of the cargo bed of the vehicle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This nonprovisional U.S. patent application claims priority to and incorporates herein for all purposes U.S. provisional patent application no. 62/031,137, filed Jul. 30, 2014 in the name of Steve DeSimone and entitled TAILGATE WITH INTEGRATED LOADING RAMP SYSTEM.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to vehicles used for transporting cargo and related items such as a pickup truck including a tailgate. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a highly functional, integrated and flexible tailgate for use on a pickup truck or other type vehicle including a cargo area including an opening.

BACKGROUND

Generally, it is known to provide a vehicle with a tailgate for closing out an opening of a cargo area of the vehicle and to provide the tailgate with open and close function. The tailgate may be used as a work surface in a generally horizontal or open position and may be used to close an opening in a cargo area of a vehicle when in the vertical or closed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cargo area of a vehicle including a tailgate according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tailgate of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the tailgate of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the tailgate of FIGS. 1 and 2 in an alternate position.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the tailgate of FIGS. 1-3 in a further alternate position.

FIG. 6 is an alternate perspective view of the tailgate of the above figures in a closed position.

FIG. 7 is an opposite side view of the tailgate of FIG. 5 showing the storage compartments for the ramps stored in the tailgate according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective alternate view of a hinge mechanism.

FIG. 9 is an alternate perspective view of the cargo area and tailgate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a further alternate perspective view of the cargo area and tailgate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is an alternate perspective view of the end view of the tailgate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a further alternate perspective view of the end view of the tailgate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 top view of the tailgate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is an alternate end view of the tailgate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 is an opposite end view of the tailgate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a further alternate perspective view of the tailgate of the present disclosure in an alternate position.

FIG. 17 is a further alternate end view of the tailgate of the present disclosure in an alternate position.

FIG. 18 is an opposite end view of the tailgate of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is an alternate top view of the tailgate of the present disclosure in an alternate position.

FIG. 20 is an alternate view of the tailgate of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is an alternate embodiment of the tailgate of the present disclosure showing a generally planar ramp for coupling with the tailgate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 is an alternate view of the ramp of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is an isolated view of the end of the ramp of FIGS. 21 and 22 detailing a passage in the end sections of the ramp for coupling with the tailgate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 is an alternate perspective view of the tailgate of the present disclosure in a further alternate configuration of the tailgate according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 25 is an alternate top view of the tailgate of the present disclosure.

FIG. 26 is an alternate end view of the tailgate of the present disclosure of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is an alternate perspective view of the ramps of FIG. 10 of the present disclosure.

FIG. 28 is an alternate perspective view of the ramps of FIG. 27.

FIG. 29 is an alternate embodiment detailing an alternative design of the end sections as suggested in FIG. 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring in general to all of the Figures there is illustrated, as best shown in FIG. 1, a pickup truck cargo compartment 10 that may include a pair of sidewalls 14 and 16. The sidewalls 14 and 16 may be oppositely disposed along the longitudinal sides of the bed 12, and may project generally perpendicularly upward from the bed. The bed 12 may terminate at a rear edge 18 of the cargo compartment at which location a tailgate door or other suitable barrier may be attached. While a pickup truck cargo compartment is represented in the FIG. 1, those skilled in the art may appreciate that the teachings of this disclosure may be generally applicable and adapted to any type of vehicle equipped with a cargo bed adapted to transport cargo.

In accordance with the features of the present disclosure, there is shown a bed extension 22 that may be attached to the bed 12 of the truck cargo compartment 10 at its rear edge 18, and may serve to safely accommodate oversized cargo on the bed 12 that would otherwise extend beyond the rear edge 18 of the cargo compartment 10. The bed extension 22 may include a substantially planar loading platform or ramp 24 which may be pivotably attached to the tailgate door 20 near the top thereof. The loading platform 24 may be substantially the same width as the tailgate door 20. The lateral ends of the loading platform 24 may include an extended lug portion 26, along each side thereof, to pivotably attach the bed extension 22 to the tailgate door 20. Each lug portion 26 may include a guide slot 36 for receiving a mounting bolt 30 after the extended lug portions 26 are placed into a boss 32 that may be securely attached at each side to the tailgate door 20. To avoid interference with loading or unloading of cargo, the boss 32 may be located in a recess in the inner panel of the tailgate door to avoid being an obstacle to loading or unloading cargo—particularly when the loading platform 24 may be removed. In fact, it is contemplated that each lug portion 26 of the bed extender may be coupled or attached to a cross-pin (not shown) mounted underneath the bed 12 of the cargo compartment 10 to avoid the use of a boss 32 that could become a hindrance to loading or unloading cargo.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 3 through 5, the bed extension 22 may assume any one of three positions other than its storage position. FIG. 3 illustrates a position at 90 degrees to the horizon, after the tailgate door 20 has been opened. In this vertical position, the bed extension 22 may be locked so that the bed extension 22 retains oversized cargo within the cargo compartment 10. FIG. 4 illustrates a position 180 degrees from its storage position or substantially co-planar with the cargo bed 12 so that it substantially extends the length of the tailgate and may support cargo. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that the tailgate and/or the bed extension may include any of a variety of cargo securing devices including an extension member or strap for securing cargo.

As in the 90 degree position, the bed extension 22 may be locked to prevent it from further rotation. In this position, the bed extension 22 provides support for cargo of extended loads. The bed extension 22 may be rotatably deployed to 210 degrees, as shown in FIG. 5, and locked in position to receive two loading ramps 34 that may be stored within passaged located in the tailgate door 20, as shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 1 best illustrates the two loading ramps attached and locked to the bed extension 22 with the bed extension 22 deployed or rotated and locked at 210 degrees from the stowed position against the inner panel of the tailgate door 20. In this position, wheeled vehicles, such as ATV, motorcycles, mowers and/or lawn or any other known device (including a human) may more easily be loaded into the cargo compartment of the vehicle equipped with the device of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a close-up of the extended lug portion 26 of the bed extension 22 which illustrates the guide slot 36 which may cut into the extended lug portion 26 to provide the three locked positions of the bed extension 22. The position shown in FIG. 8 is the bed extension located at approximately 210 degrees from the horizontal plane such as that defined by the bed of the pickup truck vehicle. The bolt 30 may be at the end of the guide slot 36 when the bed extension 22 is rotated to the horizontal position 180 degrees from the horizontal plane such as that defined by the bed of the pickup truck vehicle and the bolts 30 may move into the opposing ends 38 of the guide slots 36. With the bed extension in a vertical position as best shown in FIG. 3, the bolt 30 may be locked into the medial slot 40 so that the bed extension retains oversized cargo in the cargo bed.

A further feature of the present disclosure is that the cargo bed extension 22 may include the passages for receiving and retaining the ramps, illustrated in FIG. 1, for providing readily and always available easy access to the cargo bed for wheeled vehicles and equipment such as an ATV, motorcycle, a lawn tractor or mower.

An alternate end bracket and channel design is shown in FIG. 29 for coupling the tailgate to the cargo area of the vehicle.

As disclosed hereinabove, the cargo bed extension may be designed to fold and lock into four (4) distinct positions. When not in use, as shown in FIG. 6, the bed extension 22 may be folded and secured to the inner sidewalls of the tailgate door 20. While in the stowed position, the bed extension 22 may be locked or, alternatively, may be secured to the sidewall of the tailgate door 20 with any suitable type of latch. As best shown in FIG. 1, the height of the bed extension may not be greater than and approximately equal to, the height of the sidewalls 14, 16 above the bed 12 of the cargo area but it is contemplated that other arrangements are possible. As such, the bed extension 22 does not project above the sidewalls 14, 16 when the bed extension 12 is in its stowed and locked position.

After the tailgate door 20 is lowered, the bed extension 22 may be rotated to a 90 degree vertical position and locked at such position. In this position, the bed extension retains oversized cargo within the cargo bed. The bed extension 22 may be further deployed to 180 degrees so that it may be located substantially co-planar with the cargo bed 12. In this position, the bed extension 22 may be locked to receive and support cargo including extended loads. Lastly, the bed extension 22 may be further rotated to approximately 210 degrees from the horizontal plane as defined by the bed of the pickup truck vehicle and locked into place in order to receive the two loading ramps 34 that are stored within the confines of the tailgate door 20 as best shown in FIG. 7.

Alternative arrangements are possible in view of the present disclosure.

The present description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments as well as many applications besides the exemplary embodiments disclosed will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art upon understanding the present disclosure. The scope of the claimed invention should not be determined with limiting reference to the description but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Any disclosure of an article or reference, including patent applications and publications, is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. Any omission in the claims of any aspect of subject matter disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter.

Any numerical values recited herein or in the figures are intended to include all values from the lower value to the upper value in increments of one unit provided that there is a separation of at least 2 units between any lower value and any higher value. As an example, if it is stated that the amount of a component or a value of a process variable such as, for example, temperature, pressure, time and the like is, for example, from 1 to 90, preferably from 20 to 80, more preferably from 30 to 70, it is intended that values such as 15 to 85, 22 to 68, 43 to 51, 30 to 32 etc. are expressly enumerated in this specification. For values which are less than one, one unit is considered to be 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01 or 0.1 as appropriate. These are only examples of what is specifically intended and all possible combinations of numerical values between the lowest value and the highest value enumerated are to be considered to be expressly stated in this application in a similar manner. Unless expressly stated, all ranges are intended to include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints. The use of “generally, “about” or “approximately”, or similar words, in connection with a range applies to both ends of the range. Thus, “about 20 to 30” is intended to cover “about 20 to about 30”, inclusive of at least the specified endpoints.

The disclosure of “a” or “one” to describe an element, ingredient, component or step is not intended to foreclose additional elements, ingredients, components or steps. Plural elements, ingredients, components or steps may be provided by a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step. Alternatively, a single integrated element, ingredient, component or step may include separate plural elements, ingredients, components or steps. 

1. A tailgate door assembly, comprising: a tailgate door positioned in an opening of a cargo area of a vehicle, the tailgate door configured to pivot with respect to the cargo area between a closed position and an open position; a bed extension apparatus operatively connected to an inner surface of the tailgate door, the bed extension apparatus being deployable from a stowed position substantially flush with the inner surface to one or more additional positions forming an angle of up to and including 210 degrees with the inner surface of the tailgate door; and one or more retractable loading ramps stored within confines of the tailgate door, wherein the one or more loading ramps are configured to be secured to the bed extension apparatus when the tailgate door is in the open position and the bed extension apparatus is in a position other than the stowed position. 2-4. (canceled)
 5. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one or more additional positions includes a position approximately 90 degrees relative to the inner surface of the tailgate door.
 6. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one or more additional positions includes a position approximately 180 degrees relative to the inner surface of the tailgate door.
 7. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one or more additional positions includes a position approximately 210 degrees relative to the inner surface of the tailgate door.
 8. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one or more loading ramps are secured to the bed extension apparatus via one or more locking mechanisms extending from the one or more loading ramps.
 9. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 9, wherein the one or more locking mechanisms are received by one or more slots of the bed extension apparatus.
 10. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bed extension apparatus is pivotally engaged with an edge of the tailgate door by one or more securing mechanisms.
 11. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one or more loading ramps are free of extension beyond the confines of the tailgate door.
 12. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 1, wherein a width of the tailgate door and a width of the bed extension apparatus are approximately equal.
 13. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bed extension apparatus further includes one or more lug portions extending from a peripheral edge that are received by one or more bosses of the tailgate door to form the pivot.
 14. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 13, wherein the one or more bosses are recessed from the inner surface of the tailgate door.
 15. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bed extension apparatus is locked when in the stowed position and the one or more additional positions to prevent further rotation of the bed extension apparatus.
 16. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a pickup truck.
 17. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the tailgate door, the bed extension apparatus, or both are substantially planar.
 18. A tailgate door assembly, comprising: a tailgate door positioned in an opening of a cargo area of a vehicle, the tailgate door configured to pivot with respect to the cargo area between a closed position and an open position; a bed extension apparatus operatively connected to an inner surface of the tailgate door, the bed extension apparatus being deployable from a stowed position substantially flush with the inner surface to a first position approximately 180 degrees from the inner surface, and being still further deployable to a second position greater than 180 degrees from the inner surface; and one or more retractable loading ramps stored within confines of the tailgate door; wherein one or more locks secure the one or more loading ramps to the bed extension apparatus when the tailgate door is in the open position and the bed extension apparatus is in the second position.
 19. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bed extension apparatus, the one or more loading ramps, or both include a contoured surface.
 20. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 13, wherein the one or more lug portions are pivotally engaged to the one or more bosses via one or more mounting bolts.
 21. The tailgate door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one or more loading ramps are a pair of loading ramps.
 22. A method of accessing the tailgate door assembly according to claim 1, comprising: a) pivoting the tailgate door from the closed position to the open position; b) deploying the bed extension apparatus from the stowed position to a position approximately 210 degrees from the inner surface of the tailgate door; c) removing the one or more retractable loading ramps from the confines of the tailgate door; and d) inserting one or more locking mechanisms extending from the one or more loading ramps into one or more slots of the bed extension apparatus.
 23. A tailgate door assembly, comprising: a tailgate door positioned in an opening of a cargo area of a vehicle, the tailgate door configured to pivot with respect to a bed surface of the cargo area; and a bed extension apparatus operatively connected to an inner surface of the tailgate door, the bed extension apparatus being deployable from a stowed position substantially flush with the inner surface to a first position about 90 degrees from the inner surface, to a second position about 180 degrees from the inner surface, and being still further deployable to a third position approximately 210 degrees from the tailgate door. 